WGN America targets reality with “Outlaw,” “Wrestling”

U.S. net WGN America launches its first two non-scripted series, with Wrestling with Death (pictured) launching in January and Outlaw Country premiering in February.

U.S. cable network WGN America is entering the non-scripted TV series game.

Tuesday, January 13 will mark the 10 p.m. EST premiere of WGN America’s first reality series Wrestling with Death, which tells the story of Arkansas family the Lathams: morticians by day, wrestlers by night.

As dual business owners of the Wilson Funeral Home in Osceola and the Mid-Southern Championship Wrestling League, the Lathams’ story will unfold over 12 x 30-minutes.

In late February, WGN America’s second non-scripted series makes its bow: the 7 x 60-minute docudrama Outlaw Country, which chronicles the battle in Buckner, Missouri, between law enforcement siblings Steve and Mike Cook – Sheriff and head of the Buckner Criminal Task Force respectively – and a duo who they suspect are responsible for the town’s rise in crime.

Exec produced by Eric Bischoff and Jason Hervey for Bischoff Hervey Entertainment, the network says producers were given unfettered access to both camps to get the full story.

Outlaw Country premieres February 24 at 10 p.m. EST, with Robert Kaprill and Peter Karlin also serving as executive producers.